Choosing Between a Master's in HR Management and an MBA: Which Path Fits Your Career Goals?

Should you pursue a master's in human resource management or an MBA? What is the difference between the two? Where will the different degrees lead you?

Hi,

A Master's in HRM is a fully specialized program covering in-depth the areas of HR. An MBA might be a general program where you will cover all the major functions in an organization. Similarly, there are MBAs where you could specialize in the area of HR as well. So, the differences depend on the program the business school is offering.

It is based on your future aspirations that you should select your career path and the master's program.

Regards,
Shamil

Hi,

Since the discussion is whether to go for an MSHRM course or an MBA course, I believe my point of view will be very important as I am pursuing the MSHRM course from ICFAI School of HRD in Hyderabad.

The MSHRM course is a 2-year full-time course that specializes in the field of HR. Along with HR, we are also given subjects like Micro-Macro economics, Marketing management, Financial management. In the next semester, we have operations management. In addition to these subjects, we cover various topics in HR such as Organizational behavior, HRM, Compensation administration, PMS, IR, Training, and development, and more.

You can find more information about the course on this link: http://icfai.org <link updated to site home>.

Now, the difference between an MBA in HR and MSHRM is that in an MBA, the first year is common for all specializations and covers a wide range of subjects, whereas in MSHRM, the core focus is on HRM with insights into other fields.

Thanks and regards,
Sonit Singh

Hi there,

Could you please let me know about institutions providing correspondence courses in HR? For the last two weeks, I've been trying to find this information, and I'm feeling lost. If you can guide me, I would appreciate it.

Thank you,
Tweety

Hi there,

Most of the top management institutes provide correspondence courses in HR. You can get in touch with Symbiosis, Pune. ICFAI Business School provides a correspondence course in various streams of HR. You can get information from the website icfai.org. Also, check out the website for Symbiosis.

Regards,
Sonit Singh

Hi,

I once asked myself the same question: whether I should pursue an MBA or a master's in HR. I finally decided to go for an MBA as I didn't want to limit my options to only the HR profession.

My GM, who is also my mentor, agreed with it and told me that as we go higher in the corporate ladder, an MBA will give you the advantage with its greater breadth of business knowledge. At the end of the day, you'll be using less technical knowledge and more business-oriented skills.

Regards.

The difference is very fundamental. An MBA gives one a thorough grounding in all aspects of the business profession. An individual may concentrate in a particular area, but will still be required to take a certain number of core courses in finance, economics, accounting, marketing, MIS, and management. Electives will be used for your concentration.

In the MS in HRM degree, you will spend all your time on the principles of HR, from org design, to training, to everything else the HR profession covers. Are you a business major? If not, you will be required to take leveling courses to get you up to speed. If your undergraduate degree is in management or HR, the MBA would do you a world of good.

Also, more and more of the trade journals are showing that HR professionals need to get an MBA to have any clout in the firm (that way they know about the financial and business aspects of the firm). If you are getting a degree in something else, it may be best for you to pursue the HRM degree and after working for a while go back for the MBA.

Hi Tweety,

Pondicherry University, Bharathiar University, Annamalai University, etc., offer master's degrees in HR. It's a 2-year course. Please visit their websites for more information.

Cheers,
Vijay